Consolidate IT infrastructure, save $1 trillion, CEOs say

A group of technology chief executive officers recommends more strategic use of technology by federal agencies to improve productivity, increase competition and reduce budget deficits.

The Technology CEO Council, led by IBM Corp. CEO Samuel Palmisano, claimed the federal government can save more that $1 trillion in 10 years by implementing its recommendations for streamlining supply chains, consolidating data centers, automating paper processes and applying anti-fraud analytic tools, among others.

The council outlined its strategy in a 10-page report released on Oct. 6. “Our report contains straightforward, proven ways to pare back $1 trillion from the deficit while increasing productivity and enabling sustainable competitiveness,” Michael Dell, council member and CEO of Dell, said in a statement.

Democrats will vote on an appropriations package to reopen all the federal agencies shuttered during the partial shutdown, but the lack of wall funding will likely means the measure won't get a vote in the Senate.